British Defence Secretary: Russia has not stood up to Ukrainian resistance

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, summing up the results of the calendar year, noted that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was illegal and unprovoked and also praised the brave defence of the Ukrainian people.

“Today marks the 300th day of what was supposed to be a ‘three day’ operation. As this calendar year draws to a close, I want to update the House on the illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the brave defence of the Ukrainian people,” British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in his address to the House of Commons.

As noted, Russia has failed to achieve its strategic objectives since it began its offensive on 24 February. Not one single operational commander then in place on 24 February is in charge now. Russia has lost significant numbers of generals and commanding officers.

Rumours of General Gerasimov’s dismissal persist as Putin deflects responsibility for continued military failure in Ukraine, high fatality rates and increasing public dissatisfaction with mobilisation is growing, the Secretary added.

“More than 100,000 Russians are dead, injured or have deserted. And Russian capability has been severely hampered by the destruction of more than 4,500 armoured and protected vehicles, as well as more than 140 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, and hundreds of other artillery pieces,” Wallace said.

The Russian Battalion Tactical Group concept, for a decade the pride of their military doctrine has not stood up to Ukrainian resistance.

The Secretary noted that Russia’s deployed land forces’ combat effectiveness has dropped by more than 50%. The Russian Air Force is conducting tens of missions per day as opposed to 300 per day back in March. And Russia’s much vaunted Black Sea Fleet is little more than a coastal defence flotilla, the British official added.

As noted, Kremlin paid mercenaries are faring no better. Hundreds were killed by a recent strike on a headquarters used by the paramilitary Wagner group in the Luhansk region.

“Behind the scenes international sanctions, including independently applied UK sanctions, have handicapped the Kremlin’s defence industry. Russia is running out of stockpiles and has expended a large proportion of its SS-26 Iskander short range ballistic missiles. It is now resorting to stripping jetliners for spare parts. President Putin’s failure to marshal recruits and machinery is translating to battlefield defeat,” Wallace said.

It is underscored that Russia occupied around 27 percent of Ukrainian land at the maximum point of its advances in March. Ukraine has since liberated around 54 per cent of the territory taken since February. Russia now controls around 18 per cent of internationally recognised areas of Ukraine.

Great Britain remains one of the leaders in providing security assistance to Ukraine after Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion. In addition, Britain provides opportunities for training the Ukrainian military.

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